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Home Improvement Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
Following is a list of the top ten mistakes
homeowners make when undertaking home
improvement projects and tips on how to avoid
them:
References. Do enough research and background
checking to satisfy you. Walk away if the
contractor is not willing to provide references
from former clients. Do an online search of the
contractor's business and personal name. Check
with local courts for judgments filed against
them and with the Better Business Bureau for any
consumer complaints. Look at previous work
completed (in person). Check with material
suppliers since a good contractor will have a
long-standing relationship with suppliers.
Contact other contractors who have worked with
them before. Check their credit standing -
contractors with bad credit are often
disorganized and don't manage their business
well. Inquire about insurance, workers
compensation and licensing.
Project management. You need one person to help
you manage your project. Most issues occur when
inexperienced homeowners try to manage their own
project. A project manager is a single point of
contact between the homeowner and other
contractors and is responsible for scheduling
and workflow.
Contracts. Make sure your contract is solid. As
obvious as this may sound, failure to get a
contract or signing an incomplete contract is
one of the most common mistakes. Put all the
details in writing - never take someone's word
for it. Following are items that should be
included in the contract: (1) the full name of
the company and the person you are doing
business with and their contact information, (2)
an addendum consisting of the complete set of
plans, (3) an addendum consisting of the
materials to be used, (4) the price of the goods
or services, (5) the manner and terms of
payment, (6) a description of the work to be
performed, (7) a start date and an estimated
completion date, (8) a default clause in the
event either party defaults that specifies how
damages will be calculated, (9) warranties and
(10) signatures.
Make sure you receive a warranty with detailed
terms and conditions. Don't accept a contract
that simply states that all work is guaranteed.
There is often confusion as to who is
responsible for the warranty. Get the following
in writing: (1) Who is backing the warranty? (2)
What is covered and what is not covered? (3) How
long is the warranty valid for? (4) What can
void the warranty? (5) What is the process for
placing a warranty claim?
Changes. During the project, you may change your
mind on certain design aspects which may require
more or less work from contractors. It is
critical to document every change order and note
the exact cost or savings. Changes should be
signed and dated by all parties.
Plans. Get a clear description on what will be
done, how it will be done and the materials to
be used. For smaller projects, contractors can
draw up plans. For larger and more complicated
projects, find a qualified designer or
architect. And, for example, if load-bearing
walls will be altered, find an engineer to
review the structural side of the plans.
Costs. Estimating costs tends to be a big
problem because people do not make realistic
comparisons. Homeowners may hire the contractor
with the lowest price but that price may turn
out to be much higher in the end. "Allowance
items" tend to be the main culprit in estimating
costs. For example, contractors may give you
allowances for flooring, lighting or hardware
that are artificially low. The bid looks
enticing until you examine it closely. Request a
line item for straight costs on materials and
labor since some contractors mark up materials
and labor so they can make a profit on it. Ask
the contractor to pass along costs to you and to
add a line item for their fee. This creates a
more clear and honest assessment of the job.
Financing and payments. Before signing the
contract, figure out how you are going to pay
for your home improvement project. Make sure you
maintain control of the money - don't let your
project manager or contractor control the money.
This sounds obvious but many homeowners allow
contractors to make draws on construction
accounts only to realize that the draws were not
used for the intended purpose. What does this
mean? It means your contractor scored a new
truck, you're out of money and the project is
incomplete. Tips: (1) don't pay a lot of money
up front, (2) pay when materials are delivered,
(3) pay when work begins and (4) pay as work
progresses. Pay only after work and materials
are inspected and approved.
Inspections. Don't wait until your home
improvement project is almost complete to do the
inspection. Plan phased inspections along the
way so work doesn't need to be re-done. Don't
rely on city and county building inspectors to
protect you since the codes they enforce don't
guarantee quality (and they often miss things
too!). Before paying for work, hire an
independent inspector to do periodic phase
inspections.
Materials. Stick with products that are tried
and true. This rule especially holds true when
it comes to windows, doors, framing materials,
roofing products, concrete coverings, epoxy
floors, plumbing, light fixtures and
electronics. You don't want to be the guinea pig
that test runs the supposed latest and greatest
new products or materials only to find out that
these items don't last or turn out to be fire
hazards!
by Hilary Basile
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